Prime suspect in deadly W. Bank arson attack released

Israel frees prime suspect in last summer’s W. Bank arson attack that killed three members of Palestinian Dawabsheh family

By Anees Barghouthi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli authorities released Wednesday the prime suspect in a notorious arson attack that occurred last summer in the West Bank that led to the death of three members of a Palestinian family, Israeli media reported.

According to Israel’s Channel 7, Meir Ettinger, 24, was released from jail after spending 10 months in administrative detention.

Ettinger, the channel reported, will not be allowed to enter the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem for periods of one year and six months, respectively.

On July 31 of last year, extremist Israeli settlers torched the home of the Palestinian Dawabsheh family in the town of Duma near the West Bank city of Nablus.

The attack claimed the lives of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh -- and both of his parents -- and severely injured Ali’s five-year-old brother, Ahmed.

The incident sent shockwaves across the Israeli-occupied territories and was met with international condemnation.